High school drop out making waves at Zoo FC

Alex Onchwari has been a silver lining in an otherwise dark season for Zoo FC with their survival hope in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) partly hinged on the defender’s shoulder.

The defender has put in impressive performances for Zoo in the last couple of games that have seen them conceded only once in the last three games.

He was recently named the man of the match in Zoo's 1-1 draw against title-chasing KCB as he marshalled the Zoo defence to perfection despite his tender age showing a different breed of experience.

Onchwari is enjoying his first full season at the club having played four matches last season before Covid-19 brought to a halt all sporting activities in the country. 

The centre back has had to deal with a number of setbacks to get to the top tier including dropping out of form two in 2015 for lack school fees.

“I joined Ololung’ high school but I was unable to finish my secondary school because of finances, I had no one to support me. 

"I’m not looking to go back to school because now a number of years have passed, I want to focus on football, I know it will take me places one day,” said Onchwari in an interview with Mozzart Sport.

The Zoo defensive linchpin got his big breakthrough when he was selected as part of the 32 players from Chapa Dimba 2019 for a 10-day La Liga training camp in Spain alongside Benson Omala who has recently signed for Swedish club Linkoping City.

After the trip he met Zoo chairman Ken Ochieng who handed him a chance to play for the club, a move that came out of the blues.

“Before I joined Zoo I was in a small club in Narok, I took part in Chapa Dimba in 2018 and 2019 and was selected in the squad that went to Spain.”

“I did not expect to sign for Zoo because I was from nowhere in terms of football then I had to adapt to life in KPL because their standard was a bit higher,” he added.

To adapt to the physicality and pace of the Premier League, Onchwari says he starts his personal training by going for a run before joining the team for their session. 

The defender harbours hopes of one day donning the Harambee Stars jersey and opened up on his admiration of Gor Mahia skipper Harun Shakava.

“My ambitions are to one day play for the National Team, I hope that one day Ghost Mulee will give me a call-up and I also plan to play abroad just like Olunga and Okumu.”

“I used to like Umtiti but now I’m a big fan of van Dijk back at home, I look up to Shakava, he left Gor and is now back so I look forward to playing against him,” he said.

Onchawri has so far amassed eight Premier League games under his belt that have come against Tusker, Gor Mahia, Wazito, Vihiga United, Western Stima, KCB and Sofapaka.

Zoo FC head coach Herman Iswekha reserved special praise for him after his outstanding performance against KCB on Sunday. 

“I can not really quantify his contribution to us he has been a big plus to our side before we saw him as a young player but since the game against Homeboyz he has been exceptional, I could award him the man of the match because he has had a goal line clearance,” noted Iswekha.

Onchwari however remains confident that Zoo will beat the drop despite currently being rooted to the bottom of the table especially after the point against KCB.

“I’m really thankful for the one point it was a tough match but we managed to wither the KCB storm for 90 minutes, he did not give up even after going a goal down.

“We are still fighting hard to move out of the relegation zone and sure come the second leg we will have moved out,” he concluded.

His impeccable performances have not gone unnoticed as Bandari and Nairobi City Stars have line up for his services.